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 CHAPTER XXVII

THE ITEM IN THE NEWS

The match did not progress favorably for Kingsbridge. For five innings, Skillings fought hard to hold his own, but the "Lakers," as the Lakeport team was called, seemed to have his measure, and Hutchinson notified Stark to substitute Deever in the sixth, the score standing 7 to 5 in favor of the visitors when the change was made.

Deever took it up with reluctance, for his sore arm would not permit him to throw anything but a "lob ball." That slow teaser, however, bothered the Lakers for a while; but in the eighth they began to time it right, and drove in three more tallies, which clinched the game. Cope heard a man near him complaining.

"Lefty could have saved it if Hutch had put him in," declared the dissatisfied one. "He's the only real pitcher we've got. Skillings belongs in the discards, and Deever hasn't got anything left in his sleeve."

"But we can't pitch Lefty all the time," re